Welcome to Snack Chats, where we pull a few stools up to the counter and have a chat. Like the kitchen island in our home, this is the place for “Oh my gosh, where did you get that sweater?” and “Can I get that soup recipe?” and “You just have to read this book.”
We hope you find something that brings you joy here, and we’d love for you to share your own favorites of the month in the comments below!
Hello neighbors!
October is always a bittersweet time for me. I really enjoy the slow drop in the temperature, the transition into cozy sweatah weathah, and of course, the trees putting on a little beauty pageant for us.
But October is also when I had a miscarriage and lost my dad and when I feel the impending doom of shorter, darker days.
Add a couple natural disasters, our kid getting pnuemonia, and an election season into the mix, and this month has felt like A LOT.
I hope you’re all giving yourselves grace in this season and finding ways to laugh/walk/rage/breathe/rest/connect when you need it.
Here are all the goodies that have brought us joy or made us better this month!
😆 This woman has done us all a service by taste testing each (horrifying) flavor of these Thanksgiving Dinner Candy Corns. My favorite line: “Top middle is stuffing. This one is an unrepentant violation of the Geneva Convention. Tastes like hate and sage.”
🍲 It’s officially SOUP SEASON, and I am so grateful. I love everything about soup. The process of making it (yes, even the chopping, but mostly the SMELLS), and of course the eating of it, usually with a big hunk of crusty bread. IS THERE ANYTHING BETTER?
If you need some soups to get yourself in the spirit, might I recommend this sneakily delicious Sweet Potato Sausage Soup or my favorite Broccoli Cheddar Soup?
🥣 I have been eyeing the gorgeous pottery (particularly this do-it-all low bowl) at East Fork Pottery for literal years, and there’s no better time than now to purchase. Their business, and many of their potter’s lives, was forever altered by Hurricane Helene, and now through the end of the year 5% of their profits will be donated to hurricane relief efforts.
👧🏽 I felt so seen by this piece by Lisa Sibbett of the Auntie Bulletin. Whether you’re an aunt or a parent, I think you can appreciate both her tips for connecting with kids and WHY connecting with your own and other people’s children is so valuable.
🧑🧑🧒 What a gift this Pantsuit Politics episode on Talking to Kids About the Election was! Sarah and Beth discuss the difficulties and rewards of talking to your kids about politics, but the real highlight was Beth having an on-air discussion with her daughter where she answers her questions about the presidential debate.
🤣 Nate Bargatze was an absolute delight on SNL again last week, and I chuckle every single time I watch this Washington’s Dream sketch. You can see the one from last year here, too.
I love when my reading accidentally fits a theme, and even more so when the theme carries over to my kid’s reading as well!
The Sign for Home centers around Arlo, a young deaf blind man, as he seeks to reconcile his past and reclaim his own agency. This was so inspiring, and I learned SO much about the deaf blind community and the work of interpreters.
Charlie & Frog Series- Frog is a deaf girl on a mission to be the best detective her town has ever seen, and she’s taking the shy, unsure Charlie along for the ride. The friendship is delightful, the mystery is engaging but not too scary, AND you get to learn some ASL along the way. A perfect kid pick for Halloween.
Nothing clears the sinuses quite like this Creamy Thai Coconut Soup. It’s full of veggies and chicken in a creamy coconut milk broth with lots of tongue-tingly warm spices. It’s a staple of cold and flu season.
I can’t count on my kids to eat everything I make, but I can always count on a quesadilla to get them excited about dinner. These Ground Beef Quesadillas are easy, cheesy and great dipped in sour cream or guacamole.
Remember the Crock Pot Shredded Beef we shared last month? We took the leftovers and turned them into the BEST Shredded Beef Sandwiches. These are perfect for game days or a quick weeknight dinner.
What have you been into this month? I’m currently working on Thanksgiving recipes, so if you’re dying to get your hands on a recipe for a certain dish, please leave it in the comments!